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I went to the LA Film Festival this past week and had a blast! First up, I went to the Whitewashing: Asian American panel with the most stacked guest from Kelly Hu (Scorpion King) to Kelvin Yu (Bob's Burger's) to Leonardo Nam (Westworld)! Then saw Lena Waithe of Master of None, drop some knowledge on how she writes such brilliant work aka be honest. And attended the world premiere screenings of Streetwear documentary, Built to Fail, Bruce Thierry Cheung's Don't Come Back from the Moon starring James Franco, and of course, the mind-blowing social media commentary film, Ingrid Goes West starring Aubrey Plaza! Even though I didn't catch as many films as I normally would've, every film and panel I attended to was the most insightful and enthralling! I can't wait to come back next year!

I never thought I would see the day when Sofia Coppola would direct a thriller but here we are with The Beguiled! This southern gothic story is set during the Civil War at a southern girl's boarding school. When one of the girls find a wounded soldier (Colin Farrell), they take him in and sexual tension starts brewing. Sofia Coppola crafts a razor sharp thriller that explores gender dynamics through the female gaze. The film is filled with atmospheric tension from start to finish especially with the music provided by Laura Karpman and Phoenix. The stunning cinematography by Philippe Le Sourd will leave you breathless and wanting more!

The Beguiled is a remake of the 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood and based on the novel by Thomas P. Cullinan. Sofia has been getting a lot of heat for removing a Black slave that was in the original film to focus on the gender dynamics instead of the race relations. But I don't see why it wouldn't have worked if it did so well in the original film but that's Sofia Coppola for you. Regardless of everything, I quite enjoyed it and I'm sure it will get some Oscar nominations! After all, she did win the Best Director award at Cannes this year!

What would LA be without its streetwear culture? Built to Fail is a documentary by The Hundred's co-founder, Bobby Hundreds, as he takes a journey to define and document one of the most elusive fashion phenomena of our times, Streetwear. With interviews by Russell Simmons, A$AP Rocky, Benny Gold, and so many more, we get an insider's look at the history of streetwear and it's current state right now.

Truth be told, I would've never known about The Hundreds if it wasn't for my ex-boyfriend's obsessive passion for the streetwear culture. And I'm better for it because it's a culture that is so engrained in Los Angeles, a place I'm proud to call my home. I can't to see the film at its premiere at LA Film Fest this weekend! See ya all there!

I don't talk about Superhero movies that often but when I do, it's because it looks as good as Ryan Coogler's Black Panther! The story follows T'Challa who returns home to the isolated and technilogically advanced African nation to succeed the throne after his father, the King of Wakanda dies. This film has the most stacked cast I've seen, starting with Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and so many more! I got even more excited to learn that Black Panther will be coming out February 16, 2018 aka Black History Month! Oh, I can't wait!

This is the age-old question I've wondered about before going to film school. Safe to say that sometimes, you won't know the answer till you actually do it. Especially when it comes to film school, it depends on what field in film you want to pursue that will really determine if your education will be worthwhile. I share my experience and the pros and cons of going to film school, no matter how good or expensive it is. Ultimately, I don't regret it but there have been tons of people who have succeeded, with or without it.

Wonder Woman is not only the best DC film ever (because that doesn't say much) but a great Superhero film! As this is the first Wonder Woman film to ever exist so naturally the film focuses on her origin story. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, Princess of the Amazons and trained warrior. When a pilot (Pine) crashes offshore of the Amazon island of Themyscira and tells Diana about the war in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and destiny.

Director Patty Jenkins did a magnificent job at crafting unforgettable action sequences, three-dimensional characters, and a powerful story about hope. Even though it's a superhero film, it feels very different than the ones we're used to seeing, it's better. There is more compassion, humanity, and love in this story which is why Wonder Woman is exactly the kind of film we need to see in the world right now. I'm so beyond proud to finally see a female superhero in her own film, kicking ass and taking names! Wonder Woman 2 can't come out soon enough!

May was a super busy month! I was working on various film sets, attending Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and celebrating my Birthday, hence why I tuned into more Netflix shows than films. Aziz Ansari's Master of None, Season 2 finally came out and it was one hell of a season that surely revolutionized episodic television. Next up, I wanted to see what the hype was all about with cult-favorite, Twin Peaks. It's as creepy as any David Lynch film and I have no idea when I'll have the guts to finish season 2! Last but not least, Hasan Minhaj's comedy special, Homecoming King has got to be one of the most poignant and powerful stand-up shows I've ever seen. Netflix is killin it! What were your May Favorites?

The Safdie Bros' of Heaven Knows What (See Trailer) are back with another drug-fueled & intensely brutal story called Good Time. It's about a brother's dangerous quest to get his brother out of jail after a botched robbery. It brings me incredible joy to see Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart alike, reinvent themselves after the Twilight Saga. By the looks of the trailer, we're going to see a side of Pattinson, we've never seen before. The film got raving reviews at Cannes and naturally, A24 picked it up alongside Sean Baker's The Florida Project. Good Time comes out August 11th!

I adore everything Bong Joon-ho has done since Barking Dogs Never Bite and I didn't expect anything less in his latest film, Okja! I knew it would most likely have a political message, young female lead, and possibly a large creature in the film but never in my wildest dreams did I expect something like this. Maybe because Bong's films are usually grim compared to the dream-like and effervescent-ness of Okja but it looks refreshing and I'm excited. Netflix will drop the film June 28th but hopefully we can catch it on the big screen as well because by the looks of it, it's going to be downright beautiful.

It's finally here and it's happening! Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot is coming out this week and I couldn't be more excited! Is this the first ever Wonder Woman film to ever exist?! It's about damn time! The film has already been getting rave reviews and it only solidifies my love for this mystical woman who is Wonder Woman. Did not realize how big of a fan I was till I realized I was her for Halloween and own a Barbie-version of her. If I still have my costume, I will dress up as Wonder Woman to watch the film. If not, I'll still try to rock a gold headband! Stay tuned for my review!

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (See #AAPIFilmz) so it's always nice to kick off the month with Los Angeles AsianPacific Film Festival! Opening Night of the festival was the 15th anniversary of Better Luck Tomorrow where Director Justin Lin and cast came together and it was a blast from the past! On the anniversary of the LA Riots, Justin Chon's Gook was screened and it's honestly one of the best films I've seen this year! And of course, the Closing Night film was the #StarringJohnCho film, Columbus, directed by Film Essayist, Kogonada! This was by far one of the best LAAPFF film line-ups and I can't wait to do it all over again next year!

April was a great month for blockbusters and indie films alike! Of course as a car movie enthusiast, I had to watch The Fate of the Furious aka Fast 8! Charlize Theron was such a badass villain, I can't wait to see what she does in the next two films! Long time Jeremy Saulnier collaborator, Macon Blair, debuted with his directorial feature called I Don't Feel At Home in This World Anymore which is the most realistic revenge film I've seen yet! To cap the month off, I went to see the guns blazing film, Free Fire starring the beautiful and talented Brie Larson. Overall I say that April was a solid month! What were your April Film Favorites?

OoOo I'm loving the character poster design of Ana Lily Amirpour sophomore feature, The Bad Batch! It looks almost grim only showcasing the bodies of the characters with their heads chopped off but that basically sums up the vibe of this film. It's a brutal, psychedelic, and transcendental ride through an apocalyptic wasteland. I thought this film was so utterly fantastic that I filmed both a review and a trailer reactionfor it! I can't wait to hear what you all think of this cannibal love story when it comes out June 23rd. *Cue Yeah Yeah Yeah'sHead Will Roll

Last week was like any other week but something really cool happened because I got to work on my first ever Buzzfeed shoot! I truly feel like I've peaked being a millennial after working on it considering how it felt like I was suppose to work on a Buzzfeed shoot my whole life. Jokes aside, I had a blast and hope to continue to work with them! I will definitely let you know once that video comes out! On top of the shoot, my week was extra exciting because I finally got to watch The Fate and the Furious! Vroom vroom! #JusticeforHan

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the LA Riots, many films, documentaries, and think pieces have been popping up but it's Justin Chon's film, Gook, that I have my eye on. The topic of the LA Riots is always a touchy one for many Korean and Black Americans alike but I'm glad that Chon made a film that involved both parties especially when the divide between Korean business owners and the Black community has persisted for many decades.

Gook follows Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers who own a struggling shoe store and has an unlikely friendship with Kamilla, a street wise 11-year old African American girl. When the Rodney King verdict was announce, riots broke out in South Central Los Angeles and with chaos moving towards them, the trio is forced to defend the store while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the true meaning of family. The film won the Audience Award at Sundance and it's having its LA premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival this Saturday, aptly on the anniversary of the LA Riots. All I can say as a daughter of a Liquor Store owner, that watching this teaser was an emotional rollercoaster so get ready because it's going to be a riot.

The Girl Talk Series is back and this time it's a Korea Edition in I Think We Were Born in the Wrong Country. Jaejung and Heejin, two 14-year-olds, living in Seoul, Korea, discuss their discontentment of the high pressure Korean education system. It's widely known that South Korea ranks second in the list of Countries with the Best Education Systems. But at what cost? Most kids attend school on the weekdays and in addition, an after school academy, seven days a week. Not only do they have a remarkable and intense education system in Korea but it is one of the leading countries with the highest suicide rate. It's shocking to hear these girls joke about suicide but this is their reality and they're very aware of it. Studying 12 hours in total, morning to night, seven days a week is a lifestyle they've come to be accustomed to especially when good education leads to a guaranteed brighter future. At times somber and bleak, this is a glimpse into these young girls' world.

This trailer for Atomic Blonde almost slipped through my radar and I'm so glad I caught it because it's one of the most badass things I've seen yet! Charlie Theron can do anything in my book. She was an incredible villain in the latest installment of the Fast and the Furious series, Fast 8, and now as a top-level spy for MI6, she can do no wrong! It's no wonder why this film looks and feels like John Wick considering it's by the same director, David Leitch! Theron kicks some serious ass and is definitely taking names come July 28th!

The Girl Talk Series is back and this time it's a Korea Edition in Marriage is Complicated. Vivian and Mia, two Korean girls living in Seoul, Korea, discuss Korean weddings, dating culture and martial customs. Growing up in a culture obsessed with the concept of weddings and marriage, the rampant societal pressure to tie the knot is more fervent than ever. In Korea, if one can't find a partner through means of a dating website or friends, parents can apply their children into a dating arrangement so they can meet someone. Although, some want to break out of the traditional mold of marriage, it's still difficult because in Korea, marriage is not about just two people but the entire family. As Vivian and Mia exchange words about Korea's most traditional subject, we learn not only more about Korean culture but realize that even though we all come different cultures, we're not so different after all.

Sarah Adina Smith's sophomore feature, Buster's Mal Heart will not only quench Mr. Robot fan's thirst but give you most rewarding and retrospective movie experience of your life. Smith's previous film, The Midnight Swim had a haunting and refreshing spin on the tired "found footage" genre that solidified her as one of the freshest voice in American cinema. Buster's Mal Heart is an introspective, philosophical ride that'll leave you awestruck from beginning to end. As always, Malek delivers a hauntingly powerful performance as a man who starts questioning his own sanity after encountering a conspiracy theorist. The film comes out April 28th!

As some of you may know, I run social media for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles! IFFLA ran from April 5-9th and it was five jam-packed days of premieres, filmmakers and parties! Needless to say, it was an absolute success! I got to meet Nisha Ganatra, director of iconic LGBTQ+ film, Chutney Popcorn and even got to see Danny Pudi IRL! I bumped into several film friends and tweeted and instagramed to my heart's desire! If you haven't been to the festival yet, it is definitely worth checking out!

What a hell of a trailer, Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is! For the first time ever, I decided to do a double trailer reaction to this film and my god, I am blown away by its spectacular visuals and stacked cast which includes Rihanna! Did you hear me? Rihanna, I tell you! I'll do anything for Princess Riri. I mean, Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne aren't bad together either. Their talent and beauty alone makes them one of the most hippest couple to ever grace the big screen. I have very high hopes after seeing the trailer but it looks so good that I'm scared that it'll be bad. I guess only time will tell when the film comes out July 21st!

This has been a long time coming but I am introducing to you, the first ever, So's Film Diaries! I've been documenting my #FilmLyfe through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook but now, I'm taking it to another level and compiling my Instagram Stories into full videos where it can be accessible to everyone outside of my ig! In this video, I went to go watch The Belko Experiment, attended the last IFFLA meeting and re-watched The Matrix Trilogy, only to confirm my boundless love for the series! Trinity and Neo are seriously #RelationshipGoals!

Considering that March is post-Oscar season, it's always a good month knowing how all the good films start rolling out! The first film to really knock it outta the park was James Mangold's Logan. People have been saying it's one of the best Superhero films and I gotta agree. March was also the month where I made a whooping 6 videos including my film review for The BelkoExperiment and PowerRangers! It's also David Cronenberg's birthday so I had to revisit a classic, Crash! And last but not least, Shudder has been a really superb streaming site for hardcore horror enthusiast where they have coveted films from Ken Russell's The Devils to new releases like Prevenge! I watched the Jean Rollin's vampire film, Lips of Blood and it oozed with the kind of european horror that I didn't know I needed!

Clowns never looked so scary until Pennywise came onto the scene! Adapted by Stephen King's 1986 novel of the same name, this remake of the 1990's It film, channels the same creepy vibes as the original but instead of the brilliantly terrifying Tim Curry, we have Bill Skarsgård! This film will be split into two parts which tells the story of 7 kids as they are terrorized by an eponymous being who exploits their fears and phobias. Say goodbye to all children's birthday parties for me and prepare to be personally victimized by Pennywise come September 8, 2017!

Who knew that 90's nostalgia would get the best of me?! Damn those amazing trailer editors! Whatevs, I'm glad it did because this is one reboot, I can get behind! Dean Israelite's Power Rangers gives all the right kinds of feels and with this new class of Power Rangers, I believe we're in good hands! Despite the natural corniness that comes with the film, it's the personal and poignant stories of each teen beyond their ranger status that makes the film such a rewarding viewing experience.

One of the truly bittersweet aspects of the new Power Rangers its lopsided pacing. The film invested so much time in building the foundation of each teen's origin story that by the time they were able to fully active their Power Rangers' power, the steam runs out quickly. Regardless of the cons, this reboot is a worthwhile franchise that has much to offer even if you didn't grow up with them.

In The Belko Experiment, a 9-5 job never looked so deadly! Directed by Wolf Creek's Greg McLean and written by Guardian's of the Galaxy's James Gunn, The Belko Experiment is Battle Royale set in a office setting. In a twisted social experiment, 80 Americans are locked in their high-rise corporate office in Bogota, Columbia and ordered by an ominous voice via the intercom to participate in a game of kill or be killed. What could possibly go wrong? (Considering that most people hate their co-workers!)

This should've been an instant hit considering the talent behind it but sadly, the screenplay and direction succumbs to cliches. While the action is wholly satisfying to ultra violence lovers, the beautifully set-up character development and premise doesn't pay off like it should. Instead of utilizing the office space in its entirety as a battle ground and weapon registry, it relies on quick kills via a gun. Regardless, it was a thrilling watch but let's be real, this is no Battle Royale.

It feels like forever since I saw Ana Lily Amirpour's The Bad Batch at Beyond Fest last year! The trailer for it finally came out and it's always a delightful surprise to see how they edited the trailer. Safe to say, there is no misleading or spoilers shown, it is just as eccentric and transcendental as you think it would be. Sal from Crome Yellow and I did a review for itand we were completely enthralled and entranced by the whole cinematic experience. We especially were fond of Keanu Reeves and Jim Carrey like always! Catch The Bad Batch when it comes out in theaters June 23rd!

Sofia Coppola's latest film The Beguiled, is just the kind of thriller we didn't know we needed! Adapted from Thomas Cullinan's novel, A Painted Devil and the 1971 film adaptation starring Clint Eastwood, the film stars an incredible line of women: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Angourie Rice and of course Colin Farrell. Think the Virgin Suicides with less teen angst and more sexual tension! O la la! The Beguiled comes out on June 23rd by Focus Features. This is gonna be a good one!

Kristen Stewart has teamed up with Olivier Assayas once again to bring us a ghost story called, Personal Shopper. Y'all know, I don't do ghost stories but I didn't realize that till the end of the trailer so I'm in for a reaaaal treat! Stewart was in Assayas' previous film Clouds of Sils Maria where she went to win the Cesar Best Supporting Actress Award, making her the first American actress to win a Cesar Award (French equivalent to the Oscars). Personal Shopper is a film that seems like it'll challenge Stewart to face certain demons while providing a dense story about loss. It comes out March 10th and so I still have time left to build up some courage to watch it!

February was an exciting month for films! I realize that 3/4 of these films are horror films which explains why I haven't been sleeping so well these days. Started off the month with a bang with the all female-directed, horror anthology film, XX, which feature 4 killer tales by 4 killer directors. Then I was entranced by M. Night Shyamalan's split-personality film, Split,starring James McAvoy like we've never seen him before! There was the Oscar nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro that offered a refreshing perspective on not only the history of racism in America but the possible solution for progression. And then I capped off the month with the uber haunting and nuanced political satire, Get Out. All these films are so timely and executed to perfection, go watch them!

John Wick is baaaacck and he is not messing around. As much as I was elated to hear that Keanu Reeves was reprising his role as Wick, all I could do was wonder "Why is he back?!" in John Wick: Chapter 2. Turns out for Wick to be able to quit the hitman game, he had to ask a favor from an Italian drug lord. And because of a marker aka a "blood oath", Wick has to now pay him back. Can't John Wick just live in peace?

It's no surprise why director Chad Stahelski was able to craft such an adrenaline-pumped and innovative action film as he was a stuntman for more than 20 years before he got a chance to release his directorial debut feature, John Wick. I went a little bonkers when I saw the trailer and for good reasons because there was a mini Matrix reunion and you know how much I love The Matrix! John Wick: Chapter 2 was one hell of a good time with a star-studded cast, ultra-violence and expansive look at the hitman culture! I can't wait to see what the third film has in store for us!

Oscars 2017 was a wild trip. From Jimmy Kimmel's outrageously satisfactory roast of Matt Damon to the Big Picture screw-up, this Oscars was one for the books. I recap some of my favorite highlights as well as list my predictions and wins down below. My most favorite part has to be when the all the La La Land producersknew that they lost but gave their winning speeches anyways. Whew! What a way to end Black History Month! A huge congrats to the Moonlight team, they deserve all the awards!

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So Yun Um is a ryde or die chick living the ultimate #filmlyfe in The City of Angels. She runs So's Reel Thoughts (duh) which highlights international, independent, and genre films. She writes a bi-weekly column called Badass Femmes for Crome Yellow & is the creator of the #GirlTalkSeries. She programs for LA Festivals and is part of the Women Film Critics Circle.